The bacon hits the pan first, and that salty, smoky sizzle is your signal that something good is about to happen. By the time the onions go in, the whole kitchen smells like a Sunday afternoon you didn't know you needed.
This is the soup you make when the wind is howling and the fridge is half empty, because potatoes, an onion, and a splash of cream turn into something that tastes like a hug. You mash just enough of the potatoes to make it creamy while keeping plenty of tender chunks for texture.
Load it at the end with sharp cheddar, crumbled bacon, and a snowfall of scallions, and watch everyone at the table start reaching for the ladle before you've even sat down. Taste as you go, then taste again.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
About the Ingredients
6 slices thick-cut bacon (about 8 oz / 225 g), chopped
Thick-cut bacon renders more slowly and gives you better crunchy bits; if you prefer, swap in 1 tablespoon smoked paprika plus 2 tablespoons olive oil for a vegetarian version.
1 large yellow onion (about 2 cups / 250 g), diced
Yellow onion melts into sweetness here; a leek, white and pale green parts only, is a lovely milder substitute.
3 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh garlic is worth it, but 1 teaspoon garlic paste works in a pinch; add it last so it doesn't scorch.
2 1/2 lb (1.1 kg) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
Russets break down and thicken the broth beautifully; Yukon Golds stay firmer and give a chunkier soup if that's your preference.
4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
Low-sodium lets you control the salt; use vegetable broth to keep it meat-free, and taste before adding more salt.
1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
For a dairy-free bowl, use full-fat oat milk and add it off the heat so it doesn't split; whole milk is the closest everyday swap.
1 1/2 cups (170 g) shredded sharp cheddar, plus more for serving
Shred it yourself from a block, since pre-shredded cheese is coated and clumps; smoked gouda is a fantastic half-and-half swap.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Kosher salt is less salty by volume than table salt, so if you only have table salt, start with 1/4 teaspoon.
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Freshly ground makes a real difference in a simple soup; white pepper gives a gentler heat if you have it.
3 scallions, thinly sliced, for serving
Slice them on a bias for pretty curls; chives or a spoonful of sour cream are great stand-ins.
Tips & Tricks
Don't Boil Hard After Adding Dairy
Keep the soup at a bare simmer once the half-and-half goes in, because a rolling boil can make it grainy.
Mash, Don't Blend
Mash about a third of the potatoes against the side of the pot for creaminess while leaving tender chunks intact.
Season in Layers
Salt the potatoes as they cook and taste before the cheese goes in, since cheddar brings its own salt.
Crisp the Bacon First
Render it low and slow so it releases fat for the vegetables and stays crunchy as a topping.
Pro Tips
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Crisp the bacon
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat (about 350F / 175C) and cook the chopped bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown and crisp. You'll hear the sizzle turn from spitting to a quiet crackle; scoop the bacon out and leave 2 tablespoons of fat behind.
2. Soften the aromatics
Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes at medium heat (350F / 175C) until translucent and soft at the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook 45 seconds, just until fragrant, not browned.
3. Simmer the potatoes
Add the potatoes, broth, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer (about 200F / 93C) and cook 15 to 18 minutes. The potatoes are done when a paring knife slides through a cube with no resistance and the broth smells savory and potato-sweet.
4. Mash for body
Mash roughly a third of the potatoes right in the pot with a potato masher until the broth turns cloudy and thick. Leave the rest chunky so every spoonful has something to bite.
5. Temper the cream
Ladle about 1/2 cup of hot broth into the half-and-half and whisk, then pour the warmed cream back into the pot. Stir over low heat (about 180F / 82C) for 2 to 3 minutes until the soup looks glossy; do not let it boil.
6. Melt the cheese
Pull the pot off the heat and stir in the cheddar a handful at a time until each addition disappears into the soup. Taste and add salt only if it needs it.
7. Load and serve
Ladle into bowls and top with the reserved bacon, extra cheddar, and scallions. Serve immediately while the bacon is still crunchy and the steam curls off the top.
Delicious Variations
Baked Potato Style
Top with sour cream and a pinch of fresh dill for a bowl that tastes like a loaded baked potato.
Broccoli Cheddar Twist
Stir in 1 cup of small broccoli florets during the last 5 minutes of simmering for a greener, heartier soup.
Smoky Chipotle Version
Add 1 minced chipotle in adobo with the garlic for a gentle smoky heat that plays beautifully with the cheddar.
How to Store Loaded Potato Soup
Refrigerator
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; keep the bacon and scallions separate and add them fresh.
Freezer
Freeze the soup base without dairy for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator and whisk in the half-and-half and cheese while reheating gently.
Reheating
Reheat over low heat (about 180F / 82C), stirring often, and loosen with a splash of broth or milk since the potatoes will have absorbed liquid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did my potato soup turn out gluey?
Over-mashing or blending the potatoes releases starch and makes the soup gluey. Mash gently by hand and stop as soon as the broth looks creamy.
Q: Can I make loaded potato soup without cream?
Yes, whole milk, evaporated milk, or full-fat oat milk all work well. Add them off the heat or over very low heat so they don't split.
Q: How do I keep the cheese from clumping in potato soup?
Shred the cheese yourself and add it off the heat in small handfuls, stirring until each melts. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking starch that makes it clump.
Q: Can I make this potato soup in a slow cooker?
Yes, cook the bacon and onion first, then add potatoes and broth and cook on low for 6 hours. Stir in the half-and-half and cheese at the end on the warm setting.
Q: What potatoes are best for potato soup?
Russets are best because they break down and thicken the broth naturally. Yukon Golds work if you prefer a chunkier, buttery texture.
Ladle it up while the bacon is still crackling and the cheddar is ribboning through the broth, then pile on as many toppings as your bowl can hold. Taste as you go, then taste again.
Loaded Potato Soup
This loaded potato soup is velvety, cheesy, and topped with crispy bacon and scallions, a cozy winter bowl that warms you from the inside out.
🧂 Ingredients
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon (about 8 oz / 225 g), chopped
- 1 large yellow onion (about 2 cups / 250 g), diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 lb (1.1 kg) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
- 1 1/2 cups (170 g) shredded sharp cheddar, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced, for serving
📋 Instructions
- 1Crisp the bacon — Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat (about 350F / 175C) and cook the chopped bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown and crisp. You'll hear the sizzle turn from spitting to a quiet crackle; scoop the bacon out and leave 2 tablespoons of fat behind.
- 2Soften the aromatics — Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook for 5 to 6 minutes at medium heat (350F / 175C) until translucent and soft at the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook 45 seconds, just until fragrant, not browned.
- 3Simmer the potatoes — Add the potatoes, broth, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer (about 200F / 93C) and cook 15 to 18 minutes. The potatoes are done when a paring knife slides through a cube with no resistance and the broth smells savory and potato-sweet.
- 4Mash for body — Mash roughly a third of the potatoes right in the pot with a potato masher until the broth turns cloudy and thick. Leave the rest chunky so every spoonful has something to bite.
- 5Temper the cream — Ladle about 1/2 cup of hot broth into the half-and-half and whisk, then pour the warmed cream back into the pot. Stir over low heat (about 180F / 82C) for 2 to 3 minutes until the soup looks glossy; do not let it boil.
- 6Melt the cheese — Pull the pot off the heat and stir in the cheddar a handful at a time until each addition disappears into the soup. Taste and add salt only if it needs it.
- 7Load and serve — Ladle into bowls and top with the reserved bacon, extra cheddar, and scallions. Serve immediately while the bacon is still crunchy and the steam curls off the top.
Priya writes about South Indian home cooking and the improvisation that happens in real kitchens, from quick weekday tiffins to slow weekend spreads. She is interested in how a single tempering of spices changes a dish and in adapting familiar recipes to what a cook has on hand. Her angle is playful, sensory recipe writing that treats cooking as something to tinker with.